Are you looking for ideas for landscaping your Arizona yard?
Despite the dry climate, there are plenty of desert landscaping plants that will add character and depth to your yard.
Plus, because they’re tough enough to handle the demands of the desert, they’re typically easy to maintain.
We’ve handpicked five very different plants here for your consideration.
1. Mexican Feather Grass
If you’re looking to bring just a little beach-like atmosphere to your Arizona yard, Mexican Feather Grass is the way to go.
This graceful ornamental grass with long delicate blades has a more complex root structure than that of regular lawn grass. That means it’s well suited for the desert climate.
It also serves as a nice and natural accent to artificial grass.
Because it’s such a hearty desert grass, it does have a tendency to spread quickly. So keep up with it to prevent overgrowth.
2. Bougainvillea Vines
With blooms in bright shades of red, pink, purple, and yellow, Bougainvillea are a mainstay in any desert landscaping plan. And they’re incredibly versatile.
If you want your bougainvillea to climb, you’ll need to provide them with a trellis or train them via espalier. They won’t do it on their own.
Without that support, they’ll sprawl over the ground – which is great if you want them to serve as a groundcover.
On the other hand, with proper pruning to keep them compact, they will act more like a flowering shrub. It all depends on what you want from your Bougainvillea.
3. Golden Barrel Cactus
In its early phases, the Golden Barrel Cactus is really more of a golden sphere.
This makes them a desirable plant for rock gardens or other geometrically inclined landscaping where their golden rounded mounds provide contrast.
The cacti are actually green but covered with needles and spines in different shades of yellow. They even sprout bright yellow flowers on occasion.
It’s important to note, however, that as the plant grows over the years, those lovely globes may transform into cylinders. They’ll still provide contrast but in a different way. So plan accordingly.
4. Mexican Petunia
Among the flowering plants that thrive in warm and dry climates, the Mexican Petunia is one of the most highly recommended.
This hardy perennial is inexpensive, resistant to drought, and easy to maintain. They bloom continuously through the summer, but once per day in other seasons.
Because the most common color of the flowers is a bright and vibrant violet, they’re also known as Purple Showers. But if purple isn’t your thing, they’re also available in shades of pink or in pure white.
5. Ghost Plant Succulent
Low-maintenance succulents are the perfect addition to any Arizona garden.
The rose-like Ghost Plant Succulent is perfect in rock gardens, as garden borders, along pathways, and/or arranged in planters.
They come in a large range of sizes and provide dusty green accents throughout the garden. And at certain times, their rosettes have a rosy tint around the edges – providing a splash of color.
Spruce up Your Yard with Desert Landscaping Plants
If you’re ready to bring some character and flair to your Arizona garden, contact us today.
We offer a full range of landscape design services specifically for the desert climate. We’d love to help you find the perfect desert landscaping plants for your project.
